Here's an interesting little tidbit that we ran across today: Auto Express is reporting that Toyota will continue to offer the current-gen Prius alongside its newer version, at least in the UK. The previous car would see its price lowered in response to the upcoming new Insight hybrid from Honda, which is expected to undercut Toyota's seminal hybrid by at least £3,000. If this rumor turns out to be true, expect Toyota to match that price point with its entry-level Prius. We have no idea if this could also be true for other markets, including the U.S.

Reading between the lines a bit, perhaps it would make some sense for current Prius intenders to wait just a bit longer so that they can either get the price break on the current-gen hybrid from Toyota or get the newer model for around the same price. We just have to wonder, assuming that this report is factual, if Toyota had intended to announce it until closer to the time the new Prius goes on sale, which is expected to be around mid-year '09.

[Source: Auto Express]

We have already garnered so many technical details regarding Toyota's next-generation Prius hybrid sedan that we are getting pretty antsy to see the vehicle in the flesh. Though it is still heavily camo'd, the first real spy pics of the green halo-car have been snapped, and we can definitely recognize the iconic windswept shape which has become a Prius hallmark. Not entirely visible are the roof-mounted solar cells which are rumored to make it into production. Although the new car will grow a bit in size and get a mildly enlarged engine, efficiency is expected to increase and nickel metal hydride batteries will continue to be used in lieu of the newer but as-yet unproven lithium-based units. Expect the official V.3 Prius debut in January at the Detroit Auto Show. Also planned are a Lexus version of the Prius along with additional models which could make the Prius a sub-brand in Toyota's line of cars and trucks.

[Source: NextAutos]

Click on the photo for a gallery of high-res images of the Hybrid-X Concept

We've been hearing about the third-generation Toyota Prius for a very long time, and we're really looking forward to seeing it in person at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, where we are expecting its official debut to take place. What we don't know, however, is when the model will actually go on sale. A preliminary hint comes courtesy of Korea, as an un-named Toyota of Korea source is quoted as suggesting that the next-gen Prius will get an official launch in April of 2009 in the United States, Japan and Korea. Apparently, Toyota believes that the hybrid will be a very important model for the Korean market, and is set to price the vehicle very aggressively. Pricing information for the U.S. market is unavailable, of course. Getting back to Korea, the article also mentions that tax breaks are expected in that country for purchasers of hybrid vehicles, which, along with the high price of fuel, could make the fuel-sipping vehicles quite popular.

[Source: Digital Chosun Ilbo via Prius Chat]

Click on the photo for a gallery of high-res images of the Hybrid-X Concept

There's a good deal that we already know about Toyota's next Prius. For instance, we expect it to make its formal debut in 2009 at the Detroit Auto Show, along with a possible Lexus sister. We know that Toyota plans to increase production by 60 percent in 2009. We also expect Prius V.3 to be equipped with nickel metal hydride batteries to start, though lithium ions could go into the Lexus model. A recent article on Auto Observer reinforces all of these points and adds that Toyota is planning to increase the displacement of the new Prius' internal combustion engine to 1.8 liters from today's 1.5 liters. This should offer twenty-five extra horsepower from the engine, pushing total power to a combined 160 horses. Even with the added gumption, the next Prius is expected to post an efficiency increase of around 10 percent, possibly achieving 50-55 miles per gallon in the real world.

The next-gen Prius is expected to grow a bit larger and could get a wagon option as well, though the assorted hybrid bits will actually decrease in size. If the next Prius grows too large for your needs, rumors indicate that a smaller hybrid under the Prius banner is also possible. Auto Observer quotes an anonymous source as suggesting that the next generation Prius is "still Prius-eque, but a bit bigger and more solid looking." The current Prius' styling is an acquired taste, but most consider Gen-2 better looking than Gen-1. We have high hopes for the next Prius redesign, and the possible Prius brand as well.

[Source: Auto Observer]